AUTOMOBILE
An armoured car is made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle with bullet-resistant glasses
Rakesh Mahajan, proprietor of Delhi-based NEWS Safety solutions, a vehicle armoury service provider, is eagerly waiting for the ongoing general elections in India to get over.
Mahajan expects a surge in demand for armoured cars from the netas, who purchase it either to show off or due to threat perception.
“The increased demand comes from the newly elected leaders who may like to travel in an armoured car. For some, it is another way to show off their power to the masses while for others it may be due to increased threat perception, real or imagined,” said Mahajan, a veteran of 22 years in the industry.
An armoured car for civilian use is made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle with bullet resistant glasses and implanting armour plates into the panels. As per the requirement, the car can also have explosion-resistant fuel tank, can ply on flat tyres, etc.
The entire process to convert any ordinary car into an armoured one takes around 30-45 days. However, experts reiterate that the armoured vehicles are ‘bullet-resistant’ and should not be mistaken to be ‘bullet-proof’.
Though the retail vehicle armoury industry largely remains unorganised, insiders expect a demand of 250-300 such cars after the end of election season. Interestingly, most of this demand comes from places like UP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir and even Gadhchiroli in Maharashtra, where the crime rates are much higher than the rest of the nation. According to the manufacturers, the demand starts picking months before the election season begins, but the actual sales materialise only after the end of it.
According to the industry insiders, the armoured vehicles, of course, do not come cheap, and the cost starts from Rs 10 lakh from the unorganised manufacturers. On the other hand, the cost of getting it made from a reputed manufacturer may start from Rs 20-30 lakh and may go up to Rs 6-7 crore, depending upon the requirement and technology used.
Jagdish Chand, proprietor of another Delhi-based company MB Enterprises, claims that though the demand increases in the post-election period, they have to always remain careful about the credentials of the client. Hence, it becomes important to seek character certification of the client from the local police or district magistrate before going ahead with the order. “We just cannot make it for any person with criminal antecedents,” stresses Jagdish.
For some of the bigger players in the industry, though the post election brings some retail orders, it remains insignificant in comparison to their institutional sales for the government departments, including police and para-military forces.
Rushank Doshi, CEO of Chandigarh-based JCBL Armouring Solutions said that his company does not get much into the retail sales as institutional orders itself are high throughout the year.
This film has broken world box office records, not Hollywood, Bollywood but...
Meet Satyam Pandey who got high-paying job offer, not from IIM, NIT, IIIT, his annual salary is…
Gurgaon couple reunites with lost dog after three-month search in Agra
Meet man, IIT graduate, who topped UPSC exam in third attempt, he is from...
Noida authority takes BIG action against promoters of 2 housing projects, as realty firm fails to...
WPL 2025: Ashleigh Gardner, Deandra Dottin star as Gujarat Giants beat UP Warriorz by 6 wickets
This city is the coldest, darkest and most polluted in the world, tourists are banned here due to...
New Fastag rules from tomorrow: Users may incur additional charges if...; check details
Inside Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan's son Jeh's mario-themed birthday bash, watch
Meet Indian genius, who got high-paying job offer, not from IIT, IIM, his annual salary is Rs…
Shoaib Ibrahim gifts new house to his mother-in-law, Dipika Kakar's mother gets emotional
Deepika Padukone joins Kartik Aaryan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff at Mumbai event; see viral photos
Man wanted in Canada's biggest gold heist found living in THIS Indian city, he is...
'Free Samay Raina': Badshah shouts at his concert in Gujarat
Amitabh Bachchan's son-in-law Nikhil Nanda faces legal trouble, FIR filed against businessman for...
'Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli...': R Ashwin lambasts 'superstar culture' in Indian cricket
Bombay HC to hear PIL on Sushant Singh Rajput's death, actor's father says...
Ajay Devgn's absence from Kajol's Valentine's Day post sparks speculation: 'Kalesh chal raha hai'
Anil Ambani-led company's loss widens to Rs 3298 crore in just...; its business is...
Premanand Maharaj's morning yatra set to resume after..., it was stopped because...
Champions Trophy 2025: Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar clash over Shreyas Iyer's position in team
239 composite liquor shops to be opened in..., booze business ramps up in...
Mukesh Ambani may lose the position of Asia's richest after Reliance loses...in just...days
Elon Musk-led DOGE halts Rs 175 crore election funding for India due to...
Malaika Arora shares her Paneer Thecha recipe, here's how you can make it
Mahakumbh viral girl Monalisa steps into 5-star hotel for lunch for first time, see viral post
Meet CID-fame actor, who once did a show for Rs 20, lost his wife due to...now earns...
Vinod Kambli makes surprising move, former Indian cricketer decides to donate...
Sachin Tendulkar breaking heart on V Day with Anjali in tow is oddly satisfying, watch viral video
Ekta Kapoor to face police probe, Mumbai court orders inquiry for...
Lahori Zeera makers likely to get Rs 450 crore as fundraising from Motilal Oswal among others
'You're pregnant': Ileana D'Cruz expecting second child with Michael Dolan!
Akshay Kumar touches Amitabh Bachchan's feet at ISPL2 finale, their association goes back to...
Who is Lalit Modi’s new Valentine? All about Rima Bouri, IPL founder’s new girlfriend
India's big 'treasure' is hidden here, once THIS work is done country will earn Rs...
This country hits big JACKPOT, discovers one of world's biggest gold reserves worth Rs...
Roadies XX star Prince Narula, Yuvika Chaudhary demand Rs 20 lakh bribe? Here's what we know
What led to stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that killed 18 people? 10 points
King Kong: This 6-Foot-8 buffalo named the world’s tallest by Guinness World Records
Shakira’s metallic wolf gown took 600 hours to create, designed by THIS Indian couturier
84 year marriage, 13 kids, 100 grandkids, viral couple sets record
Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra Hocane react to Amitabh Bachchan's shout out to Sanam Teri Kasam re-release
Chhaava box office collection day 2: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna film mints Rs 67 crore
15 injured in stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, probe on